Rendering in SketchUp: From Modeling to Presentation for Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Interior Design

The Software

SketchUp is the core program used for modeling and preparing your model for rendering. There are many different IRPs. This book references most often Shaderlight by ArtVPS. The accompanying online chapters review versions of SU Podium and Twilight Render.

SketchUp

All of the modeling and rendering work for this book has been done in SketchUp 8. If you are using SketchUp 7 or an older version, it is strongly recommended that you download SketchUp 8 or the most current SketchUp version. You can use either theFree or Pro version, but Pro is recommended, as it includes some key tools (such as Solar North, which helps establish lighting) and enhanced import/export options that make preparing the model easier.

If you are using a version of SketchUp beyond SketchUp 8 (for example, SketchUp 2013) the book’s content is still relevant and viable. In addition, any of your models or components created in SketchUp 8 or older versions are fully compatible with all newer SketchUp releases.

The IRPs

Many integrated rendering programs are available for use with SketchUp. (The complete list can be found on SketchUp’s official website). This book and the supplemental online chapters use three of them: SU Podium by SU Plug-ins (Fig. 1.15), Shaderlight by ArtVPS (Fig. 1.16), and Twilight Render (Fig. 1.17).

Fig. 1.15: Campus building render (SU Podium), part of ASLA Sustainable Sites Animations

Fig. 1.16: Riverwalk render (Shaderlight), part of ASLA Sustainable Sites Animations ...